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Americas Media Initiative NFP

EIN 27-4273918 · Chicago, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AMERICAS MEDIA INITIATIVE'S MISSION IS TO PRODUCE, DISTRIBUTE AND SCREEN FILM AND VIDEO MADE IN THE AMERICAS BY COMMUNITY MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AND INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS. THROUGH SCREENINGS AT UNIVERSITIES, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY MEDIA CENTERS, FILM FESTIVALS AND ONLINE OUR GOAL IS TO BROADEN THE U.S. AUDIENCE'S UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES FACED BY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AND ENCOURAGE FURTHER INVESTIGATION THROUGH CULTURAL EXCHANGE.

Income
$121,171
Spending
$144,768
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Highest pay
$24,443, director, president

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $6,963 spent. DISTRIBUTIONSAMI HAS 17 FILMS IN ITS FILM CATALOGUE; A DISTRIBUTION COLLABORATION WITH ICARUS FILMS HAS INCREASED OUR VISIBILITY IN BOTH CULTURAL AND ACADEMIC SPHERES. SINCE WE BEGAN OUR COLLABORATION WITH ICARUS FILMS IN 2013, OVER 50 FILM FESTIVALS BOTH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HAVE REQUESTED SCREENERS OF FILMS FROM THE AMI CUBA CATALOGUE.IN 2025 WE ADDED A FEATURE DOCUMENTARY, LAND OF THE WHALE DIRECTED BY ARMANDO CAPO.JUAN ANTONIO GARCIA AND ENDAC.ORG CONTINUE TO RECEIVE PRAISE FROM SCHOLARS, JOURNALISTS AND FILMMAKERS. AT THE END OF 2025 THERE WERE OVER 8400 ENTRIES ON THE SITE. THE STONE CENTER AT TULANE UNIVERSITY HAS COMMITTED TO SUPPORT FOR 2025-2026.
  2. $108,206 spent. PRODUCTION WE ARE CURRENTLY PRODUCING TWO DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS, EL SUENO AND THE HEALER. EL SUENO LOOKS AT THE LIVES OF SEVERAL IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN CHICAGO. THE HEALER IS A SHORT, EXPERIMENTAL FILM THAT LOOKS AT THE LIFE OF DR. ZHENGANG GUO A SEVENTH GENERATION TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PRACTITIONER WHO SERVED THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
  3. $9,508 spent. HEALER PROGRAM
  4. $5,252 spent. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.